Strong defense and clutch free throw shooting enabled the Tecumseh High School boys basketball team to pick up a 44-40 victory Friday over the Ypsilanti Lincoln Railsplitters. Neither team led by more than five points in the Southeastern Conference White Division game.

Tecumseh coach Marc Comstock said his team played well, even with a slow start. The Indians trailed 7-2 after one quarter.

"We defended well and have been all season, even when we aren't doing much offensively," Comstock said. "We got in the double bonus (free throw shooting) late and kept them off the line all night. It was a great win against a very good team. We didn't play very well the other night against Ypsilanti, and I was happy to see we didn't just lay down."

Jimmy Terry sank four free throws, and Jacob Britt split a pair in the final minute as Tecumseh (5-7, 2-4 SEC) held off the Railsplitters (6-7, 3-3) to snap a three-game losing streak. Britt led all scorers in the game with 11 points, nine in the second half. Kyle Bryan with 10 for the Indians was the only other player in double figures. Devin Haygood led Lincoln with eight points.

The game started with cold shooting by both teams. Tecumseh took a 2-1 lead, but did not lead again until Britt hit a three-point play early in the third quarter. The second quarter saw the shooting improve as the visitors took an 18-15 lead at the half.

The Indians came out in the third quarter and attacked the basket while holding their own rebounding with the taller Railsplitters. The lead went back and forth for most of the second half.

Tecumseh finally nailed down the win with the final minute free throws and a defensive play by Britt. With 14.3 seconds left and Tecumseh clinging to a 42-40 lead, Britt stripped Haygood of the ball and Haygood lost it out of bounds to give Tecumseh the ball. Terry hit two free throws, Britt split a pair and Ben Vannatter split his pair with five seconds left to seal the victory.

"This was a good confidence booster for Jimmy," Comstock said. "He's had a tough week, but those were some key points."

The Indians will host Bedford on Tuesday night and then host Adrian next Friday in a game that will start at 6 p.m. Comstock said the Indians have a good stretch of games as home.

"We've been on the road a lot lately," he said. "It's nice to be home."